Tom Brady Suspended 4 Games for ‘Deflategate’ Scandal

The four-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback has been suspended four games for his involvement in the now-infamous "Deflategate" scandal.

In addition, the Patriots have been stripped of a first-round pick in the 2016 draft and a fourth-round pick in the 2017 draft. The team has also been fined $1 million.

The league released a statement on the matter which said, in part, the punishment was "imposed for violations of the NFL Policy on Integrity of the Game and Enforcement of Competitive Rules relating to the use of under-inflated footballs in the AFC Championship Game of this past season."

Deflategate became the sports -- and cultural buzzword -- shortly before the Patriots Super Bowl victory over the Seahawks back in February. The recent Wells report concluded New England officials intentionally deflated footballs to a size Brady, a future hall of famer, liked prior to the team's romp over the Colts in the AFC Championship Game and that Brady knew about it, even though he denied the charge.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell commented on the disciplinary measure, saying, "We relied on the critical importance of protecting the integrity of the game and the thoroughness and independence of the Wells report."

Two people who worked for the Patriots, officials' locker room attendant Jim McNally and equipment assistant John Jastremski, have been identified as the ones who pulled off the scheme. Both of them have been suspended without pay.

Reaction around the league -- and elsewhere -- has been swift and varied: